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Week of January 20 -Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul

January 25: Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul

The Church celebrates this feast as a Solemnity because it was the beginning of Paul’s ministry, the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Through Saul’s personal encounter with the Risen Christ and his subsequent physical blindness his heart was opened to the Light which was the unity of the “body of Christ” and Jesus Christ himself. The effect of this encounter was profound and Paul saw that the Church and Christ are one and the same and it was to be his life’s work to bring that message to the world. The celebration of this Solemnity is also a call to us to profound conversion when we encounter Christ, that is, it should be our life’s work to make Him known to all we meet and to allow Him to be in charge of every aspect of our lives. To read more about St. Paul’s conversion go to: https://www.catholicaction.org/the_feast_of_the_conversion_of_st_paul .

Since Paul (Saul) was thrown from his horse, we thought is would be fun (and easy) to make these horseshoe cookies to have with tea.RECIPE: Horseshoe Cookies (from catholicculture.com)

Instructions: Cream butter; add sugar gradually while continuing to cream; beat until fluffy. Stir in vanilla, flour and salt. Blend in rolled oats. Roll out about 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured board. Cut into strips 6 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. On ungreased cookie sheets shape strips to resemble horseshoes. Bake at 325F for 15-29 min or until lightly browned. Remove carefully as cookies are delicate but go so well with tea!! Enjoy!

READING:

(for littles) St. Paul the Apostle by Father Lovasik SVD

(for middles) St. Paul, The Thirteenth Apostle by Mary Lea Hill, FSP; The Adventures of St. Paul by Oldrich Selucky

(high school +) The Life of St. Paul by Lawrence Boadt, CSP, The Catholic Perspective on Paul by Taylor Marshall

A Prayer to St. Paul for Patience

O glorious St. Paul, who from a persecutor of Christianity, did become a most ardent apostle of zeal; and who to make known the Savior Jesus Christ to the ends of the world did suffer with joy imprisonment, scourging, stonings, shipwrecks and persecutions of every kind, and in the end did shed your blood to the last drop, obtain for us the grace to receive, as favors of the Divine Mercy, infirmities, tribulations, and misfortunes of the present life, so that the vicissitudes of this our exile will not render us cold in the service of God, but will render us always more faithful and fervent. Amen.

Also this week:

January 21: St. Agnes Read about this saint here: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-01-21

January 24: St. Frances de Sales Read about this saint and patron of Catholic writers here: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=51

Week of January 13 - St. Anthony the Abbott

January 17: St. Anthony the Abbot, father of monks, patron of pets, livestock and farmers

This Egyptian saint from the third century came from a prestigious and wealthy family. After the untimely death of his parents, he heard the gospel message, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matt. 19:21) His parents had left him a large sum of money and property but he gave much away, sold the rest and gave it to the poor. He began living an ascetic life in the desert with rigorous mortifications; sleeping on the ground, eating only bread and salt and drinking only water. Indeed, the Lord had spoken to him in his heart and he lived in solitude for about 20 years after which time, it was said, his purified soul was thoroughly immune to the vanities of the world. People sought him out in the desert for council and prayers and monks throughout Egypt sought him out to imitate him. Disciples made their abodes around him and he instructed them. After his death in 356, St. Athanasius, his friend, wrote Anthony’s biography which for centuries became the classic handbook of ascetics. Read more about St. Anthony’s amazing life here: https://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/A/stanthonytheabbot.asp

Since St. Anthony was all about simplicity; here is a simple, healthy recipe to try in honor of him. (You may want to keep this recipe for Lent!)

Heat the oil in a soup pot and add the barley, stirring continuously for one minute. Immediately add the carrot, leeks, bay leaf, parsley, salt and water. Cook the soup over low to medium heat, covered, for 40-45 minutes, until the barley is tender. Add more water if needed. For extra flavor, add the bouillon cube and the mushrooms during the last 20 minutes of simmering. Remove the bay leaf. Serve hot with some bread for dipping.

READING:

(family) St. Anthony the Great by John Chryssavgis and Marilyn Rouvelas

(high school +) St. Antony of the Desert by St. Athanasius;The Thirty Eight Sayings of Saint Anthony theGreat by Abba Anthony Curley

Prayer

Father, You called St. Anthony to renounce the world and serve You in the solitude of the desert. By his prayers and example, may we learn to deny ourselves and love You above all things. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.

Week of January 6 - Feast of the Epiphany

January 6: Feast of the Epiphany (or the Twelfth day of Christmas)

The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the awakening of the whole world - Jew and Gentile - to the presence of the newborn Savior! Though there is much mystery surrounding the star and the magi, the reason for their coming is simple, to show that Christ came to save all people. In the 7th century St. Bede wrote, “The first is said to have been Melchior...who offered gold to the Lord as to a king. The second, Caspar by name,....honored Him as God by his gift of frankincense, an oblation worthy of divinity. The third,...named Balthasar...by his gift of myrrh testified to the Son of Man who was to die.” (from Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas by Fr. William Saunders)

An Epiphany custom is to mark the lintel of the front door with chalk with the inscription - for example, 20*C+M+B+19, which signifies 2019 for the year; C for Caspar, M for Melchior; and B for Balthasar; a star (*) for the star that guided the magi; and three crosses for the Holy Trinity! It is also suggested (and makes perfect sense) that C+M+B signifies Christus Mansionem Benedicat, meaning “May Christ bless this house.”

and dust with flour. Combine cake mix plus water, eggs and oil (as directed on the cake package) and add 2 tsp of the rum extract. Mix in a large bowl according to package directions. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 40-50 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean. Remove cake pan to cooling rack.

For syrup, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and water. Simmer 1 - 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and stir in remaining 1 tsp of rum extract.

Using a dull wooden skewer, pierce cake (still in pan) 50-60 times, inserting skewer halfway into the cake. Brush bottom of the cake with 1.2 cup syrup and let stand 10 minutes to soak up. Using a butter knife, make 3 small incisions in the cake (again still in the pan) and insert the chocolate coins.

(family) The Last Straw - by Frederick Thury; Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas - by Fr. William Saunders; The Little Boy’s Christmas Gift - by John Speirs; We Three Kings - by Gennady Spirin; Three Kings, Ten Mysteries - Grzegorz Gorny

A Prayer for the Feast of Epiphany

Lord God of heaven and earth, You revealed Your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this home and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ that our concern for others may reflect Your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.